Torture and Corruption | 40th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council

On the occasion of the launch of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture’s 2019 thematic report to the Human Rights Council on torture and corruption, this panel brings together key international actors, notably the UN Special Rapporteur and the Chair of the UN Subcommittee for Prevention of Torture, as well as human rights researchers and practitioners, in order to examine the relationship between corruption and torture.

This event will address the predominant patterns of interaction between corruption and torture, as well as the systemic root causes of both phenomena, and offer recommendations with a view to strengthening the protection against torture and ill-treatment in contexts affected by corruption.
The spotlight will be on both custodial and non-custodial settings.

Welcome and Introduction
H.E. Morten Jespersen, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the UN in Geneva

Highlights of observations, conclusions and recommendations from his report on corruption and torture or ill-treatment (A/HRC/40/59)
Professor Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

The nexus between torture and corruption in custodial settings/ understanding (and addressing) corruption as part of the fight against torture
Professor Sir Malcolm Evans, Chair of UNSPT

The nexus between torture and corruption in non-custodial settings
Professor Steffen Jensen, Senior Researcher, DIGNITY and Aalborg University

Experiences from the global South
Ahmed Mefreh, Executive Director, Committee for Justice (CFJ), Egypt

Closing Remarks
H.E. Valentin Zellweger, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva

Moderator: Therese Rytter, Director of Legal and Advocacy, DIGNITY, and Member of CPT